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The Dark Tower (1943)

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Synopsis

Phil Danton's circus is on the point of bankruptcy when it is joined by Torg, a mysterious hypnotist, who arrives looking for work just as a lion escapes from its cage. Torg makes an impression when he hypnotises it into obedience. Further demonstrating his powers on trapeze artist Mary, Phil and marketing agent Jimmy Powers have the idea of Mary performing her act while under the hypnotic spell of Torg as a way of pulling in the crowds. Phil's brother, Tom, who is in love with Mary, is opposed to this for being too dangerous. The act, however, is a big hit and the circus prospers. Torg, becomes increasingly egotistical and arrogant as the circus goes from success to success, and Mary finds herself under the control of Torg at all times, not just during the act. After Tom is hospitalised following an accident on the trapeze engineered by Torg, Phil does likewise to Torg who is killed in a fall during Mary's act. As he is about to give himself up to the police, the doctor informs Phil that Torg was actually shot during his fall. Dora, the circus sharpshooter, confesses to the murder. With Torg's death, Mary is freed from Torg's hypnotic control and she is reunited with Tom.

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